Taking Stock of Your Writing

1.      What was your main point (thesis)?  “The Moral of the Story”?

      The main point of my story was to share with the reader how an early reading experience affected my life in the future. This narrative shows how I have gained the courage and enthusiasm to learn new things with and open mind. This narrative also has a small lesson, or moral. At first, I had refused to read, confident that I could not learn how. Throughout the story, I begin to read, and eventually read a whole book. Accomplishing this goal has helped me gain confidence to further my reading. At first I did not succeed, but I continued to try, and eventually I completed this task, which made the triumph even greater.

2.      Who was your audience?  What did you assume about them?  What “audience needs” did you have to consider in writing the paper?  How did you tailor your writing to them?

      My audience was my english professor, as well as my peers and whoever else views my blog. I assumed the audience would enjoy a memory of mine, that I am also fond of. I gave some vivid details such as "magical castle and moat wrapped around it". I inserted very specific dialogue, which I believe helps the reader develop a scene in their minds.

3.      What feedback or reactions did you get at various times while composing this paper, and how was this helpful?  What other kinds of input or support did you get from classmates, teacher, tutors, others?  Were you able to make use of it?  How, or why not?

      My peers have helped me correct my various drafts of this essay. I had some conflicting ideas about how I should address my past-tense/present-tense point of views. I speak in the first person to begin with, yet my story is from the past. I had my peers help me edit as well, correcting grammar and punctuation if needed. I also got some very nice compliments throughout my paper which I really enjoyed.

4.      What did you find interesting about the process you went through in writing this paper, and what did you learn from it?

      I found it interesting that once I was given the prompt, I instantly knew which memory I would share. I hadn't often thought of this memory, yet from somewhere in the back of my mind it emerged. It was almost as if the prompt had triggered this memory from so long ago. I learned from this paper that it is difficult to tell a story in past tense, but also speak in present tense, without confusing the reader, and myself.

5.      What questions do you have for me about the paper?  (What part(s) of the paper would you like me to focus on?  What do you see as the paper’s strengths, and what areas are you unsure of?)

      I would like the reader to focus on how this story has impacted me. I want the reader to understand that I had the ability to write that narrative because of that event. I want them to understand how greatly I feel this event has impacted me. I feel slightly unsure about my point of views. I feel like I have communicated the differences, but I had caught myself more than once switching in between past-tense and present-tense point of views. Though I, as well as my peers, have revised and re-read my paper countless times, I am still unsure if parts of my narrative are worded correctly.